Improvement in combined wall-protectors and towel-racks



1. F. HUMMEL. Combined Wall-Protectors and Towel-Racks.

N0` 140,506, Patentedluly1,l873.

UNITED STATES PATENT CEEIoE.

JOHN F. HUMMEL, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN COMBINED WALL-PROTECTORS AND TOWEL RACKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 140,506, dated July 1, 1873 application filed June 9, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. HUMMEL, vof Cincinnati, Hamilton county, Ohio, have invented a new and useful Combined Wall-Protector and Towel-Rack, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to that class of wallprotectors which comprise a wooden bracket or other support having a screen or curtain suspended from it, which serves to prevent water from a washstand being splashed against the wall; and my improvement consists in providing the supporting-bracket with two pivoted arms, and also with a fixed bar, rail, or rack, which arms and rail are intended to hang the wet towels upon.

Whenever the device is got up in an ornamental manner and provided with a lace curtain or other expensive screen, the fixed bar is used for dry towels only, the pivoted arms being employed for the support of wet towels; and as saidV arms are capable of being swung around in a horizontal plane so as to project at right angles from the bracket, it will be seen that the wet towels are allowed to dry without coming in contact with the curtain. For ordinary purposes, where the protector is provided with an oil-cloth, India-rub ber, or other cheap screenbthe wet towels can be suspended from the rail or bar which runs parallel with the face of the bracket and within a few inches ofl the same, as no damage would occur to the'v screen in case the towels should come in contact with it.

By thus providing the bracket both with the swinging arms and xed rail, the device can be used either with an ornamental and expensive screen, or with a common and cheap one, and the towels be disposed accordingly', as previously stated.

. Figure 1 is a perspective view of my com- -bined wall-protector and towel-rack, the

bracket being 'provided with a lace curtain, and one of the pivoted arms being swung around so as to maintain the towel out of con tact with said curtain. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a cheaper form of my device, the bracket being show lwith an oil-cloth or other common screen attached to it, and the towel suspended from the rail or rack.

The principal member of the device consists of a wooden bracket or support, A, which can have any ornamental shape imparted to it, as shown in Fig. 1, or it may be made plain, as represented in Fig. 2. Screwed or otherwise fastened into this bracket, and near the ends of the same, are pivots B B', which serve to connect the swinging arms C C- to said bracket. These pivots terminate at top in eyes b b', which enable the bracket to be suspended from nails or other suitable supports D D', that are driven into the wall at a proper height above the wash-stand E.

When folded up, the swinging arms C C occupy slots or recesses F F in the bracket, and the inner ends of these slots are furnished with enlargements ff', which enlargements allow a persons finger to be introduced for the purpose of taking hold of said arms whenever it is desired to turn them out from their inclosin g slots or recesses.

Projectinghorizontallyfrom the exposedface of the bracketA are two short studs or stumps, a a', that carry a horizontal rack, rail, or bar, G, which extends parallel with the bracket, and a few inches in front of the same. These projecting studs may, however, be dispensed with, anda continuous rail take their place, as shown at Gf, in Fig. 2; or said rail may be composed of a stout piece of galvanizedvwire, or a plated bar of metal.

In order to prevent water from the washstand being splashed against the wall, there is to be attached to the rear of the bracket a screen or curtain, which may be composed of any suitable material. In Fig. 1, this screen is shown as composed of a lace curtain, H, while, in Fig. 2, an oil-cloth, India-rubber, or other common screen I, is employed. When the curtain H is employed, one or both of the arms C C should be turned upon their pivots so as to assume a position about at right angles to the bracket A, as shown in Fig. 1, and the wet towels are to be suspended from these projecting arms.

By this arrangement the towels are allowed to dry without coming in contact with the curtain, and thereby soiling or rumplin g the same. As the oil-eloth or other common screen I, shown in Fig. 2, cannot be injured by the wet towels, such a precaution is unnecessary, and they may, in that case, be hung upon the rack,

ruil, or bar G', the arms C C being,` turned buck into their appropriate slots F I1" or left extended, at option.

It will thus be seen tha-t my bracket can be used either with an ornamental curtain or with :L common screen, and the Wet towels disposed aoc ordin gly.

I claim as my invention- A combined Wall-protector and towel rack,

consisting of the supporting-bracket A, for attachment either of a curtain, H, or screen I, 

